Early Detection Alzheimer’s Tests: What’s New

There is a growing arsenal of Alzheimer’s disease tests, from simple memory testing for mild cognitive impairment to brand new brain imaging applications. Learn more about these early detection Alzheimer’s tests and how they could change the future of the disease.

When it comes to diagnosing Alzheimer’s, “the earlier the better.” The problem is, of course, that there are many potential causes for dementia and by the time doctors are able to detect mental decline, Alzheimer’s has already begun to irreversibly damage the brain. However, cutting-edge research in the field of Alzheimer’s testing promises to change the way we diagnose the disease, and that’s encouraging news. With a new battery of tests in the arsenal, doctors are hoping to begin pinpointing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s before patients start to show symptoms.

Common Tests for Alzheimer’s Focus on Symptoms and Risk Factors

If you’re worried about cognitive changes or memory loss in an elderly loved one, a good first step is an interview with your family doctor or general practitioner. He or she will probably ask a variety of questions about their memory difficulties as well as their general health, medical history, and whether or not anyone else in the family has ever been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementia.

If your loved one is at risk for Alzheimer’s, the doctor may refer you to a specialist for further testing — usually a psychiatrist and/or a neurologist. The specialist will look for particular patterns that tend to distinguish Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms from other types of memory loss.

Measures the ability to solve simple problems as well as long-term and short-term memory testing. The results may help a doctor determine if more testing is needed.

3. Neuropsychological test

Time-intensive assessment of thinking and memory performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist, usually conducted if a physician thinks early-stage dementia is present.

The Latest News on Early Detection

Right now there is no single test that can indicate Alzheimer’s early enough for truly effective treatment. However, cutting-edge research is pointing to some promising avenues of detection in the area of bio-markers, which are biological indicators that reliably predict disease.

Research includes:

1. Brain imaging as a way to look for brain changes caused by Alzheimer’s, such as shrinkage in brain volume, reductions in brain activity, or the presence of telltale beta-amyloid, would be useful markers for early diagnosis. Research suggests that brain imaging technologies such as MRI, CT, and PET scans may help doctors with early detection. There’s even a new PET scan test for amyloid plaques that uses a radioactive dye, or tracer, to show deposits of beta-amyloid.

2. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels may show changes in the early stages of Alzheimer’s — researchers are still gathering information on this possibility, but the test would potentially be a simple spinal tap.

3. Proteins in the blood or other areas of the body may provide helpful clues to early-stage Alzheimer’s. Scientists are investigating biomarkers in blood, urine, and even the lens of the eye.

4. Genetic markers are genes that indicate increased risk for Alzheimer’s, and many of these genes have already been identified. There are even a few rare genes that directly cause Alzheimer’s. However, genetic testing is limited largely to the research setting.

A recent article on the use of PET scans to detect amyloid plaques emphasizes that brain imaging and other methods are just one tool used by doctors to diagnose Alzheimer’s. The presence of amyloid on its own does not necessarily mean you have the disease. When properly used, the PET scan is the second step in a process that starts with full evaluation of the patient’s memory and cognitive difficulties. A dementia expert will then assess the need for brain imaging or further tests in those who show a specific pattern of symptoms. All of the available information, including PET scan results, will be used in diagnosis.

Nevertheless, it’s likely that the next few years will continue to see major advances in early diagnosis and testing for Alzheimer’s, and that’s good news for families and caregivers concerned about the risk of dementia.

What’s your experience with Alzheimer’s testing? If you had the opportunity for genetic testing or other early tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, would you take it? Let us know in the comments below.

About the Author

Sarah J. Stevenson is a writer, artist, editor and graphic designer living in Northern California. Her visual art has been exhibited around California, and her writing has appeared in a variety of web sites and print publications. In addition to writing about older adults, she also writes for younger ones--her first novel for young adults, THE LATTE REBELLION, was published in 2011 by Flux. For more information, please visit: http://www.sarahjamilastevenson.comView Sarah's Google Profile.

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